Time for another dumb question

[Ed H.]

For about the first two months since back on the road the speedo wasn't working. This was finally sorted out as a connection (for lack of a better word) issue at the gearbox. Presto, the speedo works, tho a bit 'wavery'. However, neither the odo nor the trip odo showed the slightest interest in recording our miles. Finally, a bit ago, the trip odometer started working. Then, 53.6 miles later, the odometer got a move on. So far, so good.

Today I read the Owner's manual (the original, no less) and noted on page 14 the trip odometer reset (as if I needed a photo to tell me where it is), and that, on page 15, "...may be reset to zero by means of the knurled knob..." However, unlike in a current Owner's Manual, there are no instructions as to how to accomplish this fact. It would seem one needs to push it vertically, but this resulted in no desired result. No amount of persuasion convinced the trip odometer to return to zero.

Must I wait for some unknown time or mileage before being able to reset the trip odometer, must I do other than push it 'up', or do I need to face up to sending the speedo off for knowledgeable attention?

OMG, this car is fun!

[Joe R.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

Ed,

To reset the trip odometer you have to push and turn the little black rubber knob below instrument cluster.

As for the other problems, yes they could happen but your problems are strange. Sounds like the gears on the total odometer might be stripped or the gear shaft to the trip odo are loose. Can happen.

Anyhow you will need to send the entire assembly (speedo) to someone that can diagnose, repair and calibrate.

Have fun removing and installing the entire cluster. That's really a lot of fun!

JR

[Ed H.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

Thank you! LOL, all my problems are strange! I'll try 'push and turn' and see what happens. How one was to interpret that as the process from the manual I don't know, but clearly I must have back in the long ago days as the trip odo was at zero when the dash was reinstalled.

Maybe, if it follows my usual experience, I just need to look at it dumb (this sometimes requires taking the item apart, first, of course) and it will work.

Today was the first day I really put my foot into it... OMG, LT-1s rock!

[Terry M.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

Thank you! LOL, all my problems are strange! I'll try 'push and turn' and see what happens. How one was to interpret that as the process from the manual I don't know, but clearly I must have back in the long ago days as the trip odo was at zero when the dash was reinstalled.

Maybe, if it follows my usual experience, I just need to look at it dumb (this sometimes requires taking the item apart, first, of course) and it will work.

Today was the first day I really put my foot into it... OMG, LT-1s rock!

If the trip Odo has been reset the knob has to be pulled down in order to release the gears. Some, especially if not used for a while, can be very hard to push up or pull down. The rubber knob will likely pull of whilst you are pulling down. No harm unless you lose it. Don't do that. If the knob and attached cable is not pulled all the way down the odo may not work and the trip odo surely will not work. It might be prudent to "exercise" the cable a little to get it moving. In theory there is a spring to push it down, but often the cable attaching the reset knob to the odo housing is in such a circuitous route that the spring is ineffective.

[Ed H.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

Thank you!

[Chuck G.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

If the trip Odo has been reset the knob has to be pulled down in order to release the gears. Some, especially if not used for a while, can be very hard to push up or pull down. The rubber knob will likely pull of whilst you are pulling down. No harm unless you lose it. Don't do that. If the knob and attached cable is not pulled all the way down the odo may not work and the trip odo surely will not work. It might be prudent to "exercise" the cable a little to get it moving. In theory there is a spring to push it down, but often the cable attaching the reset knob to the odo housing is in such a circuitous route that the spring is ineffective.

Absolutely true.

[Dan D.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

I feel your pain. I have a '72...my spedo works about 50% of the time...the last time I had the dash apart was back in 1992...and, I swore I would never do it again. I took the coward's way out...over the years, when the spedo is on "vaca," I can look at the tach and depending what gear I'm in, I pretty much know how fast I'm going. All I can say is, "When I go to the great used car lot in the sky...that @#&*# spedo still ain't going to be working."

[Ed H.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

GPS does a good job as an interim speedo. DAMHIKT, LOL. But I'm an optimist, and if two related items have self-corrected, why can't I hope for better than 2 out of 3?

[Ed H.]

Re: Time for another dumb question

That and the footwell vents...